Many machine and plant engineers still plan and document the assembly of their systems using the object in question – a time-consuming process. If they started assembly planning during the digital stage, they would be able to deliver their systems faster.

The 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP allows them to plan the assembly steps at an earlier stage, based on the CAD models and using a large library of typical assembly operations, and to calculate assembly costs reliably. They can also animate embedded 3D models to illustrate specific assembly steps.

Architectural firms and construction companies still primarily rely on drawing-based communication. A digital building model containing all the relevant building data would not only make planning and execution much easier but also the subsequent management of buildings.

The 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP makes it possible for the companies and disciplines involved in the construction process to embed their building information in a 3D PDF container in a format that can be read by all those involved in the project and link them together so that the impact of any changes can be monitored more effectively.

Finding the right spare or wear parts in a maintenance manual is time-consuming and prone to errors. Digital spare parts provisioning makes maintenance technicians' work easier and provides companies with an incentive for ordering spare parts directly from the manufacturer of their machines or systems.

The 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP makes it possible for manufacturers to automatically create electronic spare parts catalogs that contain all the information relevant to service regardless of the system in which this information is stored. The solution also allows their customers to place their orders for parts from directly within the catalog.

Although most companies today model their products in 3D, paper drawings are often still the primary documents for manufacturing, quality assurance and assembly. The end-to-end use of digital product models would reduce the time and effort required to create drawings and cut lead times.

The 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP makes it possible for companies to communicate model-based manufacturing information and information relevant to quality and to view this information with Adobe Reader. If necessary, native CAD or STEP data can also be added to the 3D PDF containers.

When dealing with requests for quotes, the staff in purchasing has to gather information from a variety of different source systems and record incoming quotes in order to evaluate them. A time-consuming process that could be speeded up considerably if requests for quotes (RfQ) were created automatically.

The 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP simplifies the quoting process by merging all the information required to handle requests for quotes in a 3D PDF document at the click of a button. Suppliers can enter quoted prices and other information in interactive form fields that are automatically evaluated after the form is returned.

Every company organizes its release and change processes somewhat differently, making it difficult to coordinate cross-enterprise development projects. More efficient communication of any information that is relevant to changes would significantly simplify and accelerate these processes.

The 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP supports cross-enterprise coordination by making it possible to define intelligent PDF templates for change requests/notification of changes that are automatically filled with all the information relevant to changes. The recipients can automatically import this information into their backend systems.

Companies not only create CAD models, 2D drawings and circuit diagrams but also a large number of technical documents in a variety of different formats. If it were possible to visualize them using a single tool, there would be no need to buy and maintain numerous converters and viewers.

The 3D PDF technology from PROSTEP makes it possible to establish a uniform standard for viewing data from different applications. It also makes it easier to pass this data on to partners in the supply chain, who do not require any other viewer apart from the free Adobe Reader.

Many companies offer customers the opportunity to configure the product of their dreams online, i.e. by selecting certain options, colors or materials. If they provided the customer-specific offers in digital form, customers could use them offline or share them with other people without having to print them out.

The 3D PDF solution from PROSTEP makes it possible to merge all sales-related documents in an interactive 3D PDF document that customers can view with Adobe Reader. Interactive form fields and embedded business logic even allows them to trigger the order process directly from within the document.